Four Weeks of Excavation: Sunday May 17 to Saturday June 13, 2020 (Join us for 1 to 4 weeks!)

The Shiloh Excavation is one of ABR’s (Associates for Biblical Research) most important research projects. The Tabernacle stood at Shiloh for 300 years, where the people of Israel gathered to worship. This is where the Ark of the Covenant resided! We have a number of core goals for the Shiloh dig:

Investigate the location of the biblical tabernacle and any associated structures.

Uncover evidence of the biblical sacrificial system.

Understand daily life in Israel at the time of the Conquest and the period of the Judges.

Introduce the new technologies of wet-sifting and computerization in the field.

Equip students and volunteers with the knowledge and skills needed to scientifically excavate in the Land of the Bible.

Build on the regional understanding of life in the Highlands of Israel gained by ABR's previous excavations at Khirbet Nisya (1979-2002) and Khirbet el-Maqatir (1995-2016).

Do you want to help with this historic dig? Click on ONE of these links for more information:

Do you want to get your hands dirty and join us on the dig? You can find out more information on volunteering for the dig by clicking here!

Can’t join us on the ground, but want to be part of our special Shiloh Financial Team and support the Dig? You can do that by clicking here!

Ancient Shiloh was first established in the Middle Bronze (MB) II period, around 1650 B.C. It was expanded in MB III, around 1500 B.C. and was continuously occupied until the middle of Iron Age I (around 1050 B.C.) when it was destroyed by the Philistines (See I Samuel 4). It was rebuilt in Iron II (980-587 B.C.) and was occupied through Early Roman times. The Byzantines and Crusaders also built structures there. Most importantly, it was the center of Israelite worship for at least 300 years. The tabernacle was erected at Shiloh and may have been later replaced by a more permanent structure. The city is in the territory of Ephraim, Joshua’s tribe.

History of Excavations

Shiloh was excavated for three seasons by a Danish team between 1926 and 1932 and again in 1963. Israel Finkelstein worked the site from 1981-84. Although a minimalist, Finkelstein confirmed the presence of “proto-Israelites” from the time of the Conquest through the period of the Judges. A very large deposit of burned cultic bones was uncovered, confirming a sacrificial system. Like at Maqatir, the Israelites built their houses against the MB wall. After Finkelstein, the Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria (KAMAT) renewed sporadic excavations at Shiloh in 1988. To date, the Bronze Age gate has not been found, but there was a glacis (fortification slope) and fortified wall that surrounded the site, which no doubt will eventually lead to the gate.

Associates for Biblical Research has been excavating at Shiloh since 2017.

2013 Roundup of Significant New Discoveries "These buildings were destroyed in a fierce conflagration. Burnt floors were found all over. Collapsed burnt bricks accumulated on these floors to a height of more than three feet. Some of the bricks had been baked by the blaze that had raged here. Roof collapse was discernible in many places. All this dramatic evidence of fire must be associated with the destruction of Shiloh by the Philistines after they defeated the Israelites near Ebenezer in the mid-11th century B.C. Jeremiah knew what he was talking about when he later threatened the people with destruction like Shiloh’s."

From Ramesses to Shiloh: Archaeological Discoveries Bearing on the Exodus-Judges Period Fall of Shiloh (l Sam. 1-4). Significant architecture from the Iron Age I, the time of Eli, has been excavated at Khirbet Seilun, ancient Shiloh, 17 km south of Shechem. All traces of Iron Age and earlier occupation on the summit of the site unfortunately were removed by later building activity. On the slopes, however, enough material from the Iron Age I period has been found to determine that the settlement at that time was 2 1/2 to 3 acres in size.

ABR fulfills its mission through memberships and generous donations from supporters.

Join us in our mission! No matter what your level of interest, from keeping abreast of the fascinating research that comes out of the field work, to actively participating in an archaeological dig, you can become an integral part of our ministry.